There seems to be a surplus of white, twentysomething, slim, able-bodied, conventionally attractive people on social media sharing a (mostly) well-meaning but empty message to “love yourself”. A sentiment which elides the historical and societal context that has made it almost impossible for many people to do so. Anita Bhagwandas’ Ugly delves into the concealed factors that make up the beauty trends of the past and present, in a refreshingly intersectional critique of the ugly truth behind the perception of beauty.
This book discusses beauty standards through a range of lenses – including colourism, ageism and fatphobia – which are often brushed over in the media. Bhagwandas seamlessly combines heartbreaking personal anecdotes with hilariously satirical commentary and in-depth histories with modern pop culture references.
Ugly feels like a helpful response to that tired “love yourself” rhetoric, thrown around all too often with no guidance on how to actually achieve it. I’m not saying that this is a self-help book on how to actually love yourself, but it may well help the reader to make more informed judgments on their perception of beauty standards, and allow them to be that bit more loving towards themselves and others alike.
Ugly, Anita Bhagwandas (Blink)
Price: £18.99/£9.99 Ebook. Info: here
words ELIZABETH MORRIS